Sloppy Joes

• 1 lb. Ground Chuck
• 1/2 small sweet pepper (diced) 

• 1/2 med onion (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic(minced) or 1 teaspoon pre-minced refrigerated garlic
• 3/4 cup ketchup 
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt & Pepper to taste

In a 1 cup measure add 1 teaspoon garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, chilli powder, dry mustard, Worcestershire and water. Whisk to combine.Set aside. Add ground chuck to skillet over medium high heat and cook until brown. Drain off fat. Add onions and/or diced pepper a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, cook until they begin to soften.Turn heat to simmer and add sauce mixture. Stir it in to combine well. Cook 15 minutes more.

1/2 red or green pepper, diced and diced onion are optional.

Broccoli Casserole

• approximately 2 -4 cups fresh broccoli florets (steamed)
• 1 can cream of broccoli or broccoli cheese soup
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (omit cheese if using cheese soup)
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups crushed cheese flavored crackers

In large covered sauce pan filled with about ¼ inch worth of water, steam broccoli florets until bright green and hot (approximately 3 to 5 minutes once water comes to a boil). Drain broccoli well.  Place into a sprayed 2 quart casserole.  In the mean time mix soup with mayonnaise, cheese and lemon juice.  Layer in casserole atop the broccoli florets.  Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.  Top with crushed cheese crackers and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Easy Pizza Buns

• 1 pound ground meat
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 1  package hamburger buns split
• 1 jar cheese whiz or 8 cheese slices (halved)
• 1 lg. can pizza sauce
• Grated Parmesan Cheese

  Brown onion and ground chuck as usual. In the mean time separate tops from bottoms of dinner rolls. Place on cookie sheet cut side up. Spread each bun half with Cheese Whiz or top with 1/4 slice piece of cheese. Top each half bun with a 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon of sauce (more or less) spooned in the center of each half, until all sauce is used. top with heaping teaspoon spoon full of meat mixture in the center of each half bun on top of the sauce. Add optional toppings. Sprinkle each half bun with grated Parmesan cheese. Preheat oven to 350°F bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until buns are golden and crunchy.

Be creative, these can be topped with any type pizza toppings.(hand full of chopped mushrooms, black olives, 1/4 green pepper chopped small [saute this with ground chuck if using) use discretion. 

Leftovers keep for a day or two and heat nicely in oven for about 10 minutes if you want to keep them crunchy. You can microwave 2 of them for about 1 minute but they'll be a bit mushy.

Tuna Braid

1 tube unperforated sheet crescent rolls ** 2 cans tuna in water (drained) I prefer Albacore White Tuna 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots (Optional add in to tuna mix or serve on the side) 1/4 cup diced onion 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip 4 slices American cheese

Heat oven to 375ºF
Combine tuna, veggies, mayonnaise & onion.
Flatten dough into 1 long rectangle on baking sheet (approximately 9" x 13").
Spoon tuna mixture lengthwise down center of dough. Top with cheese slices.
Cut slits 1" apart on each side of rectangle from filling to edge.
To give braided appearance, fold strips of dough across filling, alternating from side to side.
Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.


**If using perforated dough place on ungreased baking sheet with long sides overlapping 1/2 inch; press center seam and pinch perforations together to form one large rectangle.